My hammer is dying!

[Ferrell]

I had hermits do the same to a frogspawn

 

[Matt Carden]

Update: I haven't had time to remove the Peppermint Shrimps. Still Apstasia in my tank so they obviously lost the taste.

Her is a pic of what's left of the Hammer. I would say it ain't coming back.

 

[w2inc]

feed the hammer if it will take food. Leave the skeleton in there even if you think it is dead. Keep feeding it. You will be surprised about what comes back.

 

[Jon Fishman]

I had hermits do the same to a frogspawn

Only thing that every died on me was a frogspawn..... I figured it was just bad luck and a $100 learning experience, but I kept testing and everything else in tank was good too..... now I'm wondering if my massive hermit population had something to do with it!

 

[w2inc]

Only thing that every died on me was a frogspawn..... I figured it was just bad luck and a $100 learning experience, but I kept testing and everything else in tank was good too..... now I'm wondering if my massive hermit population had something to do with it!

Wait and see. Water changes generally dont make things worse. LPS respond well to food. I have seen several come back after food. Watch the others in the tank, check your levels and try food and a dip if they look down. I had a fungi die. Other corals loved life. You are right in thinking it may just have been a bad piece. If nothing else goes down then try again with a cheaper piece. I have taken some unexplained hits. It happens to everyone.

 

[Jon Fishman]

Wait and see. Water changes generally dont make things worse. LPS respond well to food. I have seen several come back after food. Watch the others in the tank, check your levels and try food and a dip if they look down. I had a fungi die. Other corals loved life. You are right in thinking it may just have been a bad piece. If nothing else goes down then try again with a cheaper piece. I have taken some unexplained hits. It happens to everyone.

This was probably 3-4 weeks ago that I finally decided it wasn't gonna come back to life. Everything else in that time has been awesome. I watched it be "Bare" for 5 weeks now or so.....

 

[w2inc]

Ya, probably gone. Sorry you took a hit like that. If it makes you feel any better I have lost 3x that even after a 2 year run of what I thought was awesome.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Lights look a little bright. Run blue at 80% and white at about 15%. additionally, moderate water flow, and what is your tank salinity as well as Nitrate/phos/Ammonia levels?
Salinity should be 1.024-1.026

 

[Matt Carden]

Lights look a little bright. Run blue at 80% and white at about 15%. additionally, moderate water flow, and what is your tank salinity as well as Nitrate/phos/Ammonia levels?
Salinity should be 1.024-1.026

I am running DT lights around 80% blue 20% white. The Hammer is in the sump. I still have to trap the Peppermints before I put the skeleton back in the DT. All water parameters good except off the chart PO4 using Salifert.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I am running DT lights around 80% blue 20% white. The Hammer is in the sump. I still have to trap the Peppermints before I put the skeleton back in the DT. All water parameters good except off the chart PO4 using Salifert.

That Po4 will not help but not total issue. As for peppermints,,,, a piece of food and bottle trap (see pic) will nab them

 

[Matt Carden]

That Po4 will not help but not total issue. As for peppermints,,,, a piece of food and bottle trap (see pic) will nab them

Thanks I will try that soon.

 

[Matt Carden]

So I had my hand in the tank this morning to right a frag that had been flipped over last night and I see something scurrying near my hand. I only got about 20 seconds to check it out but it was definitely a crab and it was hairy. If my suspicion is right, that is a Gorilla Crab. He is probably who killed my Hammer. I still feel more comfortable with Peppermints in the sump and the Gorilla will join them when I catch them. This means no replacement Hammer for awhile.

 

[Jay Z]

In my experience peps and cleaners only go after dying or struggling corals. I've never had any of mine go after something healthy. They walk on them and take food, but never have hurt mine.

I actually started adding my new small torches to one of my other tanks until they look normal, then move to my tanks with shrimp in them. I have found anything stringy coming off a coral upon putting in the tank is like a dinner bell for them.

I do not have one of the hairy monster crabs though, so I cannot comment on that. I do have a rogue Harlequin shrimp named The CUC Reaper. If I don't give him 1 big starfish every 2 weeks to eat, he goes mental. I've caught him eating my conchs, snails, hermit crabs, and a brittle worm. Now if I could get this little monster to eat mijano I'd be all set.

I know everyones livestock can act different depending on food available and tank structure.

Just what i've noticed in mine.

 

[Dom]

Maybe I should move the Hammer to the sump until I find the Shrimp

I don't know that you will have enough flow or proper lighting in the sump for the hammer. Best to put the peppermint shrimp in the sump.

 

[vetteguy53081]

So I had my hand in the tank this morning to right a frag that had been flipped over last night and I see something scurrying near my hand. I only got about 20 seconds to check it out but it was definitely a crab and it was hairy. If my suspicion is right, that is a Gorilla Crab. He is probably who killed my Hammer. I still feel more comfortable with Peppermints in the sump and the Gorilla will join them when I catch them. This means no replacement Hammer for awhile.

Trap and get rid of it especially if gorilla. A simple trap is pictured below using a 2 liter bottle with a piece of shrimp inside.

 

[Matt Carden]

Trap and get rid of it especially if gorilla. A simple trap is pictured below using a 2 liter bottle with a piece of shrimp inside.

That is the trap I used for the Peppermints. I didn't know if it would also work for crabs. I did catch a dozen cerith when I was trying to catch the Peppermints.

 

[vetteguy53081]

That is the trap I used for the Peppermints. I didn't know if it would also work for crabs. I did catch a dozen cerith when I was trying to catch the Peppermints.

Yes as long as crab can enter